# North Carolina Relaunches Healthy Food Pilot

North Carolina plans to relaunch a scaled-down Healthy Opportunities Pilot in early 2027, providing weekly healthy food boxes to eligible NC Medicaid members experiencing food insecurity in three regions covering 33 counties. The state is investing $9 million, with federal matching funds bringing total program funding to approximately $25 million. No solicitation or contract award has been announced; stakeholder notices are expected at least 30 days before services begin.

- Food and community-service organizations can assess their capacity to provide weekly food boxes across the three regions and 33 counties as the relaunch approaches.
- Prospective providers should use NCDHHS stakeholder notices as the source of information on participation; the stated notice window is at least 30 days before services begin.
- The funding announcement is not itself a procurement opportunity or award. The signal provides no contract values by region, solicitation details, or procurement contact.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Healthcare
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** November 09, 2026

### Government Entities
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
- NC Medicaid
- North Carolina General Assembly

### Vendors
- Impact Health (incumbent regional program operator)
- Access East (incumbent regional program operator)
- Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear (incumbent regional program operator)

### Key Quotes
> Our hope is to expand services in the future as more resources become available so we can continue building on this success.
> — Melanie Bush, Deputy Secretary of NC Medicaid

### Sources
- [North Carolina Announces Plan to Relaunch Innovative Healthy Opportunities Pilot Program | NCDHHS](https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2026/11/09/north-carolina-announces-plan-relaunch-innovative-healthy-opportunities-pilot-program) - NC